Mud Wing Having Directional Spray Suppression

Abstract

Mud wings of the present invention include an enclosed space in which water diverters are disposed in positions and in orientations that cause water entering the enclosed space through the front panel of the mud wing to directionally drain to a predetermined exit port in the mud wing. In one embodiment, the exit port is located on the bottom portion of a thin sidewall of the mud wing that is designed to release water on the inboard side of the tire path, which prevents the water from being deposited into the path of any rearward tires.

1 . A mud wing, comprising:
 a back panel   a first side wall disposed in contact with said back panel and projecting outward therefrom;   a second side wall disposed in contact with said back panel and projecting outward therefrom, wherein said second side wall is disposed opposite said first side wall on said back panel;   a front panel disposed in contact with said first side wall and said second side wall, wherein said front panel defines openings through which water may pass, wherein said back panel, said first side wall, said front panel, and said second side wall define an enclosed space; and,   one or more water diverters disposed between and in contact with said back panel and said front panel, wherein one or more ports are defined in one or more of said first side wall, said second side wall, and said back panel;   wherein, when water enters said space through said openings in said front panel, said water will be pulled downward by gravity into said one or more water diverters, which will divert said water toward said one or more ports, after which said water will drain from said space through said one or more ports.   
     
     
         2 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more ports are defined only in said second side wall. 
     
     
         3 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more ports are defined only in said back panel. 
     
     
         4 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said back panel defines a single port. 
     
     
         5 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said second side panel defines 1-10 ports and neither of said back panel nor said first side panel define ports. 
     
     
         6 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , comprising 1-20 water diverters. 
     
     
         7 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said front panel includes a spray suppression system. 
     
     
         8 . The mud wing of  claim 7 , wherein said spray suppression system is polymeric, finger like elements projecting off of the base surface. 
     
     
         9 . The mud wing of  claim 8 , wherein said front panel has a thickness of 1 to 10 millimeters and comprises polyethylene. 
     
     
         10 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said front panel transmits at least 30% of water incident on its surface into said enclosed space. 
     
     
         11 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein greater than 90% of water entering said space is discharged from said one or more ports. 
     
     
         12 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said first side wall defines one or more ports, said second side wall defines one or more ports, and said back panel does not define any ports. 
     
     
         13 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more water diverters divert water toward said second side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more water diverters divert water in two directions. 
     
     
         15 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more ports are connected to a fitting that allows attachment of a tube to said one or more ports. 
     
     
         16 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said water diverters are integrated into said back panel. 
     
     
         17 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said water diverters are integrated into said front panel. 
     
     
         18 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said back panel comprises hollow stakes projecting toward and passing through said front panel, wherein said hollow stakes are thermally staked and hold said front panel in position. 
     
     
         19 . The mud wing of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow stakes can accept a self tapping screw. 
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling water spray produced by a tire, comprising:
 installing behind said tire a mud wing, comprising:   a back panel   a first side wall disposed in contact with said back panel and projecting outward therefrom;   a second side wall disposed in contact with said back panel and projecting outward therefrom, wherein said second side wall is disposed opposite said first side wall on said back panel;   a front panel disposed in contact with said first side wall and said second side wall, wherein said front panel defines openings through which water may pass, wherein said back panel, said first side wall, said front panel, and said second side wall define an enclosed space; and,   one or more water diverters disposed between and in contact with said back panel and said front panel, wherein one or more ports are defined in one or more of said first side wall, said second side wall, and said back panel;   wherein, when water enters said space through said openings in said front panel, said water will be pulled downward by gravity into said one or more water diverters, which will divert said water toward said one or more ports, after which said water will drain from said space through said one or more ports.